2015 Honor Roll Inductee: John Linden, Mid-Iowa Baseball League

By Steve LaMontia, Director of Communciations

John Linden is the President of the Mid-Iowa Baseball League located in Des Moines, Iowa and 2012 inductee into the MSBL National Hall of Fame. He is a 56 year old who plays for an unbelievable five teams in the league and finds time to make annual trips to the MSBL World Series in Arizona as well as participating at sponsored Las Vegas tournaments and the Fall Classic in Florida. John found the MSBL in 1997 and to say that he has jumped back into baseball with both feet is an understatement. John is a well deserved inductee into this year's crop of Honor Roll recipients as designated by MSBL Founder and President Steve Sigler. Posted below are a few questions we posed to John so that you may learn a little more about his passion for the game.

Biographical Information:

Your name: John Linden

City or town of residence: Polk City, Iowa

Age: 56

League name: Mid-Iowa Baseball League

Town where league is based: Des Moines,
Iowa

Where did you grow up? Born in Omaha, NE,
graduated High School in Sioux City, IA graduated College at Iowa State
University, Ames, IA

What do you do for a living? General
Manager for Robert Half/Accountemps Print Marketing Division

Family information: This summer will be my wife, Nancy, and my 35th Anniversary.
We have a son Tanner, 25 that lives in Bloomington, IN and plays in the MSBL
Indianapolis Adult Baseball League and a daughter Kristina, 21 going to school
for Criminal Justice.

General Questions:

Describe your baseball resume: I did not
play ball in college, somewhat of a regret. At the time, Sioux City and Amesdid not have American Legion ball or any semi-pro teams so back in the 70s and
80s fast pitch and slow pitch were the only avenue to get my diamond fix. I did
that for 24 years before finding MSBL in 1997 and then I dropped fast and slow
pitch that year and have played hardball ever since.

What is your greatest baseball moment,
either watching or playing? Watching live, I was present for Roger Maris’ 51st
homer in 1961. I also was present when Tony Oliva hit an in-the-park home run
at Yankee stadium in 1964 burning Mickey Mantle. As a player, pitching a victory at Tempe
Diablo versus a previous World Series F/S team (the opposing pitcher was
drafted by the New York Yankees) In Center, Tanner tracked down three 390’ blasts
I served up to help preserve the win. I also K’d a former UNLV player in that
game. (I don’t think he had ever seen an Eephus pitch before).

When did you start playing for MSBL and how
did you hear about it? I heard about MSBL in 1997. Some neighbors
had run into a few of their high school teammates who played in the league and
we formed and became Charter members for the Iowa Oaks 28+ team.

Do you still play? I currently play for five
teams. The 18+ Iowa Aces, 25+ Iowa Oaks, 35+ Des Moines Bulldogs, 45+ Des
Moines Grays and the Des Moines Bruins (25+ or 35+) traveling teams. Some day I may actually
play in my age group…

What is the best thing about your league? The people and participation, we encourage
all skill levels to come out and enjoy the game we all love.

Do you participate in any MSBL national
tournaments? I have played in 16 World Series in
Phoenix(some years 25+ and 35+), seven Las
Vegas Classics (all were 25+), several MSBL regionals all over the Midwest and
was a member of the 2014 35+ Fall Classic Championship team in Florida.

Questions just for fun:

Who is your favorite player of all time and
why?

Willie Mays. 3000+ hits, speed (300+ stolen
bases), power (660 homers, 1990+ RBI), hustle/arm (7000+ putouts), 24 straight
All Star games, and of course "The Catch”. In 1967 I made an an over the
shoulder catch in center and after that play, my coach would greet me with "Say
Hey”.

Are there any additional personal comments
you wish to add about your playing or life thus far? I have had three Achilles surgeries and keep
rehabbing and coming back for more ball. I must be a baseball junkie. I think dirt is in my veins. I feel that is
the case for most of the team mates I have been blessed to be around with over
the years. It is a passion, a family, a
life experience that has been so rewarding. My wife had cancer ten years ago,
and my team mates were there for us. I have had team mates with cancer and have
lost team mates and league members or umpires - we pick each other up. It is a
community and a gift.

Are there any comments about MSBL you wish
to share? Thanks to the many managers, board members and players in MIBL that
truly understand the value and privilege we have to play the game we love. Stay
healthy and have fun! - John